Double-Edged

Dreaming

What Should We Hope For?

Uriel Abulof Ph.D. on April 6, 2023

This is Passover, a time to celebrate emancipation from slavery, and to calibrate our compass, emotional and moral - to rediscover hope, personal and political.

This is Passover, a time to celebrate emancipation from slavery, and to calibrate our compass, emotional and moral - to rediscover hope, personal and political.

Self-Control

An Existentialist Guide to Feeling Nothing

Uriel Abulof Ph.D. on December 22, 2022

What makes us feel nothing and flee freedom? An existentialist guide to the world’s best, most boring, film.

What makes us feel nothing and flee freedom? An existentialist guide to the world’s best, most boring, film.

Gaslighting

The Kinks’ Guide to Gaslighting

Uriel Abulof Ph.D. on December 5, 2022

What one song can reveal about the word of the year.

What one song can reveal about the word of the year.

Gratitude

A Debt of Gratitude

Uriel Abulof Ph.D. on November 30, 2022

Personal Perspective: Can Thanksgiving make us happy? Perhaps not when our gratitude celebrates a consumerist society.

Personal Perspective: Can Thanksgiving make us happy? Perhaps not when our gratitude celebrates a consumerist society.

Personality

Why Authoritarian Leaders Are Like Toxic Therapists

Uriel Abulof Ph.D. on June 28, 2022

Fusing heroism and victimhood, authoritarian leaders become "mighty martyrs." This cannot be stopped without realizing their malignant politico-therapy.

Fusing heroism and victimhood, authoritarian leaders become "mighty martyrs." This cannot be stopped without realizing their malignant politico-therapy.

Passive-Aggression

Hail Caesar! When Personal Resentments Spur Political Revenge

Uriel Abulof Ph.D. on June 20, 2022

You can’t always get what you want—but you can make others suffer for it. Some leaders are all too happy to teach us how.

You can’t always get what you want—but you can make others suffer for it. Some leaders are all too happy to teach us how.

Politics

Self-Determination Is Key to End Putin's Charade and Avoid Escalation

Uriel Abulof Ph.D. on March 14, 2022

How can we avoid a nuclear catastrophe and build a better world order? The answer is hidden in Putin's rhetoric: self-determination.

How can we avoid a nuclear catastrophe and build a better world order? The answer is hidden in Putin's rhetoric: self-determination.

Relationships

Love Is an Hourglass—And We Can Flip It, Again and Again

Uriel Abulof Ph.D. on March 7, 2022

Love and lust can last, but only if we lose our illusion of independence and embrace our freedom fully.

Love and lust can last, but only if we lose our illusion of independence and embrace our freedom fully.

Sexual Orientation

The Biological Origins of Sexuality vs. Freedom

Uriel Abulof Ph.D. on March 1, 2022

Imagine you fall in love with someone who doesn’t care for you, but you can use a magic potion that will make them love you or make you stop loving them. Would you?

Imagine you fall in love with someone who doesn’t care for you, but you can use a magic potion that will make them love you or make you stop loving them. Would you?

Relationships

Love’s a Drug Until It Becomes a Drag

Uriel Abulof Ph.D. on February 27, 2022

All things pass, love is no exception, but it is exceptional in how we wish it won’t. Together forever. Or not. How long does love last? How long can it?

All things pass, love is no exception, but it is exceptional in how we wish it won’t. Together forever. Or not. How long does love last? How long can it?

Health

Happy 2022! To Heaven Through Hell?

Uriel Abulof Ph.D. on January 3, 2022

Covid is what happens when you’re busy planning your new year celebration in an outdoor hot tub. I was soon joined by Dante and Dalí.

Covid is what happens when you’re busy planning your new year celebration in an outdoor hot tub. I was soon joined by Dante and Dalí.

Relationships

Does the Universe Ask Us to Love?

Uriel Abulof Ph.D. on December 20, 2021

Does the universe ask us to love? Carl Sagan, who died 25 years ago today, answered with a resounding "yes."

Does the universe ask us to love? Carl Sagan, who died 25 years ago today, answered with a resounding "yes."

Fear

Homesick in Israel

Uriel Abulof Ph.D. on July 13, 2021

Home is a place of belonging, which turns in upon itself once it becomes part of our belongings — in personal and political life.

Home is a place of belonging, which turns in upon itself once it becomes part of our belongings — in personal and political life.

Trauma

July 4th Soul-Searching and the Liberal Uncanny

Uriel Abulof Ph.D. on July 6, 2021

The United State of America’s 245th birthday is a cause for celebration and for soul searching. How should we remember the January 6th Capitol attack?

The United State of America’s 245th birthday is a cause for celebration and for soul searching. How should we remember the January 6th Capitol attack?

Anxiety

Has COVID Fueled Existential Anxiety?

Uriel Abulof Ph.D. on May 28, 2021

Face masks reveal what they seek to conceal: existential fear on the rise.

Face masks reveal what they seek to conceal: existential fear on the rise.

Bullying

Bullying: Why Does It Work? How Can We Fight It?

Uriel Abulof Ph.D. on October 5, 2020

Does our self-worth depend more on people who hardly know us, than upon ourselves? If so, perhaps we shouldn’t be too surprised that bullies get to us, personally and politically.

Does our self-worth depend more on people who hardly know us, than upon ourselves? If so, perhaps we shouldn’t be too surprised that bullies get to us, personally and politically.

Positive Psychology

Should We Pursue Awe, and Can We, Without God?

Uriel Abulof Ph.D. on July 30, 2020

We are always above a precipice. Perhaps, then, the very evanescence of everything can comfort and inspire us? The search for answers can begin in stars, and in rainbows.

We are always above a precipice. Perhaps, then, the very evanescence of everything can comfort and inspire us? The search for answers can begin in stars, and in rainbows.

Empathy

How Can You Be So Cruel?

Uriel Abulof Ph.D. on May 18, 2020

Stanley Milgram wanted to find out how the Nazis could be so cruel, but ended up suggesting we all can, and quite easily. A report on the Puppetry of Evil.

Stanley Milgram wanted to find out how the Nazis could be so cruel, but ended up suggesting we all can, and quite easily. A report on the Puppetry of Evil.

Coronavirus Disease 2019

Can We Sit Quietly in a Room Alone?

Shirley Le Penne on May 7, 2020

We should have been well prepared for social distancing. We aren't. Humans still want solidarity and intimacy, but to truly gain both we should relearn to embrace solitude.

We should have been well prepared for social distancing. We aren't. Humans still want solidarity and intimacy, but to truly gain both we should relearn to embrace solitude.